Wednesday, April 18, 2012

I haven't updated in a couple days! Well it was a over thirty hour trip back home to the OC. My Aunt and Uncle picked us up from LAX on Sunday around noon. I was able to stay awake the whole day! The next day I went back to school and made it through the school day, but I slept from 5p.m. till 6:30 the next morning! I still have jet lag, but it isn't too bad. =)
I'm so grateful to have had an opportunity to visit Africa and help out there. I'm so lucky! I cannot wait to go back there!!! Hopefully we'll return soon! I love my parents so much!
If anyone is interested in helping out or donating, please comment on this post or contact me! Thanks for reading!<3

Saturday, April 14, 2012

Today we leave for Dubai. I'm going to miss this place and the people!! I'm so sad to leave, but hopefully we'll be back soon!

Future Dr. Nina Kar! =)

This morning Mom, Dad, and I went for a buffet breakfast- SO good!!!! After, Prince, Irene, and Remy drove my Mom and me around Kampala for an hour! It was a lot of fun and it's interesting to see how the big city is similar and different than Fort Portal. Well we're about to leave for the airport. I'll be back!!! <3

Friday, April 13, 2012

Today we went for some more shopping and then at 2:15, we took off for our four drive back to Kampala! Thanks to Primce Rukidi for driving us going and back the 300 km!! I finished my English homework (which took me three and a half hours to do because the scenery was so beautiful) I ate roasted hot bananas, and I was able to think of new ideas to help more in Uganda. We reached our gorgeous hotel at 6:30 and I took a nap! Then, we went out for a buffet dinner (yummy!!!) and now we're back in the room watching world news.
I already miss Fort Portal so much!!! The minute I saw the sun shine out onto the luscious fields I was in awe! It was so gorgeous and when we drove to see the chimpanzees, I didn't take my eyes off the landscapes! I loved it so much and I wish I could stay there longer and help out more!
The weather in Fort Portal is perfect- not too cold, not too hot, rains, and then sunshine. The town is surrounded by acres of tea plantations, rolling hills, and mountains.
The people were so sweet and caring! When we would drive by people, I would smile and wave and they would return the gesture with an even bigger smile and wave! Most people in town was so stylish, I felt out of place with my rolled up jeans, Toms, and old t-shirts! The uniforms for the children were so cute!!! The little children were so cute and friendly. I wish that I could've spent more time at the orphanage. Maybe next time I can help out there! =)
So tomorrow is our last day in Uganda, Africa =( and we leave for Dubai. Then we connect from Washington to LAX reaching OC mid morning! I want to stay here so badly but leaving just gives me more opportunities to raise funds for the clinics and orphans! I cannot wait to come back! Fingers crossed and God willing my parents and I will be able to return to do more volunteer work! =)

So today my Dad saw about 50 patients! Mom and I shopped till we dropped! We bought tons of souvenirs- beautiful bracelets, woven baskets, etc. Kathy Hichborn (<3 her!!), Prince Rukidi (RAFA!!), my Mom(<3), and I drove 25 km to see the Chimpanzee Forest. I drove half way there!! (No, I did not hit anything or crash into anything) The drivers side is on the left and so is the driving lane! It was a small country road going through small villages and tea plantations. The drive was gorgeous and I was in love!!!! After seeing about 3 monkeys, we headed back! We visited an Indian family at their hardware store- typical Indians (first class, first class)! After Dad finished his work, we went to a clinic which will be opening shortly. The clinic was a 10 room building that holds either single or double beds in each room. The kitchen consisted of a small coal stove in the back. After visiting the clinic, we went back to the Arche International Research Center where Prince and Kathy awarded my parents and I with Certificates of Honor! Then we went out for Indian dinner at a place called Chap Chap! We enjoyed the evening and retured back to the hotel. I fell asleep at 9:30! Today was a lot of fun! I loved driving here :)
Tomorrow we leave Fort Portal =( We're going to be staying in Kampala for a night and then Friday we leave for Dubai!

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Day 3: I woke up at 5 am! I was able to chat with some friends, catch up on blogging, and do some homework! We visited the Ugandan Government Hospital, where their resources and staff were scarce and their patients were in abundance. My dad saw and treated over 100 patients in the outpatient free clinic! (truly an A++++ person!!!) My mom and I went to the research center where I taught about twelve people how to use Microsoft Word & PowerPoint! After lunch, we went back and I taught them how to type on the keyboards! It was their first time and it was my pleasure for them to use the computers that we raised money for, and for me to teach them how to use it! I loved helping them!! After taking a nap, we visited the Prince's cousin, who had Meningitis, which handicapped her, and HIV/AIDS. She lived in a little shack with no electricity or clean water. She wasn't able to walk by herself and had a scarce amount of resources. She was the sweetest person! She was a true hero and I commend her for not complaining and taking care of her two children and one grandchild.

After the visit, we went out for dinner with some doctors and an official. It was so much fun!!

Well, these are just some pictures from day 2! Like I said, the orphanage has changed my point of view in life and has really changed me. These kids were some of the most loving people I have ever met. I loved each and every one of them!

This is a picture of the surgery center in the government office of Fort Portal. Look at this picture, and then look up a picture of a surgery room in America. See the difference? Well, this is what a surgery room looked like about 30 years ago in America. The people here need better! I know that there are other countries that have the same, or maybe worse conditions, but we can only change the world one place at a time, right? We might as well start out big! These hospitals need our help. The people need our help!
This place was not like our hospitals- in fact, our hospitals are like 7 star hotels compared to these. They have 19 doctors and about 750 patients average per day. They have one X-ray machine, one ultrasound machine, two surgery rooms, and one outpatient clinic.

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

My life has forever been changed by this one day. In the morning, my Dad gave a lecture to fellow doctors and nurses about Urology, and my mom and I went to the Arche International Research Center. With all the money that we raised, we were able to buy computers to fill the center. I taught two sessions, but unfortunately, the power and internet went out during both of them! =( The people I taught were some of the nicest people I have ever met! They were so real, funny, and sweet! (If you are one of those people, I just want to thank you for teaching me so many things!!) Although we couldn't work on the computers, we played around with my school iPad, listened, to music, and ate chocolate! It was so much fun! =) After my second session, we went to the orphanage down the road from the center. (I was bitten like 8 times by mosquitoes =/) It was called Toro Babies Home. We donated rice, flour, sugar, cooking oil, etc. They are supposed to house children aged 0-3, but they have made exceptions for some. My heart broke when I saw the 46 children. They were all so beautiful and loving!! We passed out chocolate to them (it was their first time trying it!). Some of the babies ate one chocolate for like ten minutes because they couldn't chew it- cutest thing!!! Each baby had a different personality- one sang random beats, one liked to hug everyone, one wanted attention, one sat on the side sullen, and several wanted hugs. They would hold my hand and walk with me. All together they sang "Happy Birthday"!! They all held onto each other and loved one another. I couldn't stop myself from crying (as you might see in the pictures) and I just wanted to take them all home! They were the cutest babies and they all just wanted love. Luckily, the women that take care of them are also sweet and loving. The Ugandan adults and children have forever changed my perception on life- I value my parents, life, family, and friends so much more; I see that in life, we take so much for granted, when the people who are less privileged value the smallest things. Everyone here jumped to get the chocolate, when we will throw an M&M because it fell on the ground for 0.2 seconds. They value everything in life. I think as a society, as God's children, and as humans, we should give back to the people who are less fortunate than us. Even making a small donation to a foundation can help someone in need.
I'm already 150% sure I'm coming back- I want to make it an annual trip!
Well I'm drained, so I'll post tomorrow!<3

I haven't had internet connection, but I've been keeping a journal! Well my first day consisted of a 5 hour, 8 a.m. plane ride from Dubai to Entebbe and then a 5 hour drive from Entebbe to fort Portal! The drive was gorgeous!! The lands are so green, luscious, and rich! I slept most of the way, but I was still exhausted- I'm guessing it was my lack of sleep. We were escorted by police and the Prince drove us! (Just call me Princess Nina!!) We got to the hotel (which is beautiful!) and they were playing Akon, Enrique Iglesias, and Selena Gomez =) We went out for dinner and after the whole Lent (and some give ins) I finally ate chips/fries! Mmm =)
I've never worn so much insect repellent! There's so many people here that have gotten malaria and I'm freaking out! I just started taking the meds for it, but I was supposed to take it like 3 days ago. Whoops... =/
Everyone here is so nice! They all have a common goal- help the people of Uganda. They are driven and ready to get to work in order to help their people. I'm super excited to work with them!
Tomorrow is my first day of teaching computer classes! I'm nervous, but very excited! I'll be teaching basic computers to people of all ages.

Sunday, April 8, 2012

Dubai is gorgeous!! It's like the New York of the Middle East and I love it!!! We went to the hotel where they shot Mission Impossible III! We also went on a sand dune safari where I rode a quad motorcycle, rode a camel, and got a henna tattoo! The camel's name was Shahim! Aww =)
Tomorrow morning (5am!) we are leaving for Uganda- 5 hour plane ride, 5 hour drive to Fort Portal.

Jet lag is ruling me! Dubai is eleven hours ahead of Cali and I'm randomly hungry and tired! Well I'm excited to finally get to Africa and help out as much as I can! Well it's 10:00 here and I'm going for dinner with family!

First time bloggingggg! I'm going to try and blog every night about my trip and what's goes on everyday.

I, Nina Kar, will be traveling to Fort Portal, Uganda with my parents. We will be doing a mission trip there: my mom and I will be teaching the people how to use computers (which was bought for them after my family and I raised $$$) and my dad will be teaching doctors special procedures in surgery and will also be helping out in some medical camps! Apparently, we will be meeting one of the Princes of Uganda!!! (I see an opening door to meeting Prince Harry ;) - just call me Princess Nina from now on!)

For all of those who have heard about Kony- I will bring back the REAL scoop on whats the haps with that. Don't worry, I will not spare deets!!

It's probably time for me to really pack and do some homework!

If you want to keep up with my whereabouts and what's going on, this will probably be the place to go! I'll miss you all!

Everyone, have a very nice spring break and a very very very Happy Easter! <3